The Lead Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) is responsible for providing basic and advanced Respiratory services to adult and geriatric patients at the Loma Linda VA Medical Center. However, the therapist must be knowledgeable regarding the basic treatment of all age groups. The Therapist plans, implements, and evaluates the effectiveness of respiratory care procedures. The RRT will act as the Lead and oversee the work of lower-graded associates to achieve department and facility goals.

Duties

Duties include, but are not limited to: Demonstrate expert knowledge of respiratory therapy methods, equipment, and procedures. Assume responsibility, plan, organize, direct, coordinate, and evaluate programs involving Respiratory Care. Serve as Lead Therapist and is administratively responsible for the quality assurance activities, coordination of all educational and competency training, and the day-to-day operation of the assigned shift. Serve as the charge person in the absence of the Chief or Assistant Chief and will be responsible for modifying the workload to accomplish the assigned duties. Collect, review, and evaluate relevant clinical data from the medical records, care team, patient, and patient's family to ensure appropriate care when indicated. Perform both basic and complex therapeutic procedures for adults and geriatric patients, for example, monitoring patients receiving mechanical ventilation, assisting with bronchoscopy, using techniques that include interpretation of clinical data, describing and interpreting arterial blood gas values and acid-base balance. Apply clinical expertise in such a manner as to upgrade patient care where indicated and assist the provider in formulating an appropriate respiratory care plan based upon patient assessment, history, lung auscultation, chest x-ray, pulse oximetry, etc. Communicate changes in the respiratory care plan and/or patient status to other healthcare team members as appropriate. Additionally, the incumbent will make recommendations to providers regarding changes in treatment based on patient observation and diagnostic test values. Provide practical and relevant education to the patient, family, students, and facility staff when appropriate. Perform both fundamental and advanced diagnostic procedures. Perform emergency and acute respiratory care procedures per departmental guidelines and industry standards. Actively participate in departmental quality assurance and hospital organizational performance improvement. Comply with all medical center policies and procedures regarding safety practices. Demonstrate working knowledge of the appropriate safety protocols. Maintain clinical and professional competency based upon established standards of practice. Assembles, checks, and corrects malfunctions and performs quality controls on respiratory care equipment. Participate in in-service education pertaining to respiratory therapy, maintaining a close relationship with other disciplines and students who may rotate through the health care facility. Assign individual assignments based on patient acuity and staffing levels. Lead will be available to cover areas when needed and as indicated. Performing chart audits, monthly documentation submission, and performing in-service education as necessary. Assign duties and responsibilities to staff. They will provide coverage in those areas that require continuous respiratory presence (SICU, MICU, etc.) when the assigned staff are on breaks or lunch or must leave for any reason. Monitor supplies within the department and order supplies as needed. Utilize VA systems to request repair and replacement of equipment through Information technology and Biomedical departments to ensure proper and timely replacement of supplies and/or repair of broken equipment and devices. Assign work by defining objectives, priorities, and deadlines, as well as guiding the therapy assignments that do not have clear precedents. Evaluate completed work for appropriateness and effectiveness in meeting goals. Assist staff in determining treatment options for complex patients. Work Schedule: TBD Telework: Not Available. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Title/Functional Statement #: Lead Registered Respiratory Therapist / 000000. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required.

Requirements

Qualifications

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. BASIC REQUIREMENTS: Citizenship: Citizen of the United States. Education: Individuals must have successfully completed a respiratory care program accredited by the CoARC or its successor. Licensure: Persons appointed or reassigned to RRT positions in the GS-0601 series must possess and maintain for the duration of employment a full, current and unrestricted license from a state to practice as an RRT. Credential: Persons appointed or reassigned to RRT positions in the GS-0601 series must possess and maintain for the duration of employment a valid, current, unrestricted credential of RRT. English Language Proficiency: applicants must be proficient in spoken and written English. GS-12 Grade requirement: (a) Experience, Licensure and Credential. Candidates must: i. Have one year of creditable experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level demonstrating the clinical competencies described at that level. RRTs at this grade level in this assignment have experience demonstrating advanced practice skills and clinical judgment across many areas of respiratory care both inpatient and outpatient. ii. Hold an active license and RRT credential. (b) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities. In addition to the requirements above, candidates must demonstrate all the following KSAs: i. Ability to assign personnel and tasks to be accomplished in a manner that assures completion of the workload. ii. Ability to oversee and direct clinical guidance in a manner that assures completion of the workload. iii. Ability to communicate with individuals of varying backgrounds to solve problems and provide conflict resolution. iv. Ability to recommend uncommon or atypical interventions. v. Ability to recommend ways to improve patient care and operations through independent research and evaluation of new equipment and therapies. (c) Assignments. For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, complexity (difficulty) and range of variety and must be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time. Lead RRTs are found in higher complexity facilities (level 1 and 2) and the lead duties must be regular and reoccurring and must constitute at lead 25% of the duty time. This assignment may be established as day/evening/night and/or inpatient/outpatient. They ensure work is distributed among employees in accordance with established workflow or job specialization. Lead RRTs assure timely accomplishment of the assigned workload, assess the status, quality and progress of work and make day-to day adjustments in accordance with established priorities. They provide clinical practice guidance for other respiratory staff and assist with technical work problems not covered by precedents or established policies for non routine or complex procedures. They assist RRTs in determining treatment options for complex patients. They study the quality and quantity of work and operating effectiveness and take or recommend needed actions. They represent the department at interdisciplinary meetings. May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria). References: VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G11- Registered Respiratory Therapist. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service for requirements.

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Contacts

• Address Jerry L Pettis Memorial Veterans Hospital 11201 Benton Street Loma Linda, CA 92357 US
• Name: Courtney Blansfield
• Phone: 602-751-1286
• Email: [email protected]